Bulgaria publishes conditions that RMV must meet to lift veto

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry on Friday published a list of commitments it said the Macedonian government had undertaken during a visit to Sofia on 17 JUNE.

During the meetings of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev with the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Stefan Janev and President Rumen Radev, but also in the meeting between the two Foreign Ministers, Bujar Osmani and Svetlan Stoev, Skopje has reportedly agreed to fulfill these obligations:

To specify in the UN that the name of the state applies only to the state as a political entity and not to the geographical region of Northern Macedonia;

Skopje to confirm it to the UN as soon as possible, based on Article 11, paragraphs 3 of the Good Neighbor Agreement that the long name and the abbreviation of the state apply only to the political entity "Republic of Northern Macedonia", and not for the geographical region "Northern Macedonia", part of which is located within the sovereign borders of Bulgaria. After sending this confirmation, Bulgaria will immediately end its insistence that the neighboring country use only the long name "Republic of Northern Macedonia" in the EU and international organizations.

Withdraw from claims of Macedonian minority in Bulgaria;

The Republic of Northern Macedonia must finally withdraw from the claims of minority in Bulgaria, confirming that there is no historical basis, ethnic and other minority groups for any group of non-citizens in the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. This would be in line with the non-interference clause in Bulgaria's internal affairs, regulated by Article 11, paragraphs 5 in the Agreement of the year 2017.

To begin the rehabilitation of the victims of Yugoslav communism in the territory of Northern Macedonia;

The Republic of Northern Macedonia to start the process of rehabilitation of the victims of Yugoslav communism, oppressed in its territory because of their Bulgarian consciousness. This historic gesture by the Republic of Northern Macedonia in practice would express our common European civilizational choice.

Review textbooks in agreement with Bulgarian historians;

The Republic of Northern Macedonia to harmonize the content of the curricula with the Republic of Bulgaria, in order to objectively reflect our common history, established as a central element in the Preamble and the Good Neighbor Agreement, as well as with the aim of eliminating teaching content that incites hatred towards Bulgaria.

Eliminate signs and inscriptions in hate speech against Bulgarians in the territory of Northern Macedonia.

Together with Bulgaria to identify and remove signs and inscriptions in the territory of Northern Macedonia which cause hatred towards Bulgaria and Bulgarians.

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Bulgaria was obliged to extend support for the start of EU-Northern Macedonia talks at the EU General Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 22 JUNE. In meeting, Bulgaria gave positive note on Albania's achievements in the reform process and said "yes" to the approval of the negotiating framework for Albania, it is said in the press release.

Bulgarian Foreign Ministry states that it has sent a letter to the Foreign Minister of Northern Macedonia today, Bujar Osmani with which they express to him the Bulgarian expectations that Northern Macedonia will respect the obligations taken.

For, the obligations claimed by Bulgaria have so far not been confirmed by the Government of Northern Macedonia. There is no information from the office of Prime Minister Zaev on what proposals the Prime Minister has submitted and on what obligations he has agreed.. /euronews